Summer Reading
Newton County School System
Summer 2014
6th Grade List
This Summer
Students must read one (1)
book from the list for the
grade level in which they will
be enrolled at the beginning
of the school year.
Students should also
respond to the literature by
completing two of the
activities from the
appropriate choice board.
The summer reading
assignment will be taken for
a grade in the student’s
English Language Arts (ELA)
class within the first three
weeks of school.
As a means of recognizing
the student’s efforts, each
assignment will be graded
and counted as a
performance task grade for
the first marking period of
the 2014-2015 school year.
Quest students must
complete the Quest
assignment.
• A Summer Life by Soto
• A Wrinkle In Time by L’Engle
• A Year Down Yonder or A Long Way
from Chicago by Peck
• Absolutely Normal Chaos by Creech
• Artemis Fowl (and/or its sequels) by
Colfer
• Bad Boy by Myers
• Breaking Through by Jimenez
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Bridge to Terabithia by Patterson
Bud Not Buddy by Curtis
Chasing Vermeer by Collier
Crispin: At the Edge of the World by
Avi
Dragonwings by Yep
Elijah of Buxton by Curtis
Ella Enchanted by Levine
Esperanza Rising by Ryan
Flipped by Wedelin van Draanen
Freak the Mighty by Phibirck
Hatchet by Paulson
Heartbeat by Hoot & Hiaasen
• House of Dies Drear by Hamilton
• Joyful Noise (Poetry) by
Fleishchman
• Kira-Kira by Kubota
• Maniac Magee by Spinelli
 Miracle’s Boys by Woodson
• Old Yeller by Gipson
• On My Honor by Bauer & Kozielski
• One Crazy Summer
by Williams-Garcia
• Our Only May Amelia by Holm
 Rascal: Memoir of a Better Era
by North (non-fiction)
• Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry by
Taylor
• Slam by Myers
• Small Steps by Sachar
• Surviving the Applewhites by
Tolan
• The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by
Twain
• The Black Pearl by O’Dell
• The Bridge to Terabithia by
Paterson
• The Circuit: Stories from the Life of a
Migrant Child by Jimenez
• The Fledgling by Langton
• The Lightning Thief series by Riordan
• The Skin I’m In by Flake
• The Tale of Despereau by Decamillo
• The True Confessions of Charlotte
Doyle by Avi
• The Watsons go to Birmingham
1963 by Curtis
• The Wresting Game by Colfer
• Timothy of the Cay by Taylor
• Touching Spirit Bear by
Mikaelsen
• Tuck Everlasting by Babbitt
• Up the Street by Soto
• Walk Two Moons by Creech
• Woodsong by Paulsen
Additional Selections:
Any award winning book or book from the list above that is within the student’s Lexile range.
Helpful Links:
Lexile levels: www.Lexile.com/fab/GA
ebooks:http: www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Main_Page
Summer Reading Response Choice Board
Directions: Choose two activities to complete as you read your book this summer.
Illustration
Compare/Contrast Writing Style
Dialogue
Draw or paint your favorite scene from
Compare and contrast the writing style
Imagine that the main character from the book
the book you read. You may do this on
of the book you read to that of a book
you read accidentally meets a character from a
traditional canvas or poster board; or
you read last school year. Think about
book you read in class last year. Write a 2-page
you may be ultra creative and choose
the use of description, dialogue, word
dialogue introducing these characters to each
your own medium.
choice, and character development.
other.
Epilogue
Create an alternate ending to the book
Word Web
Create a “word web” (see instructions
Movie Poster
Create a movie poster from the book you read.
you read. This ending must be at least 2
below) with 10 vocabulary words you
Think about which current actors/ actresses
pages. Please edit for spelling,
learned while reading your book.
would play each part and design a poster
punctuation, and usage.
accordingly.
Visual Presentation
Diorama/Table
Letter
Create a visual presentation comparing
Create a diorama or table model of the
Write a letter to the author of the book. Explain
and contrasting the main character
setting of the book you read.
your opinion of the book. What did you like or
(protagonists and antagonists) from the
dislike? (one page in length)
book you read and the main character
of a book you read last school year.
Word Web Graphic Organizer
Synonym
Antonym
Sentence
Illustration
Summer Reading 2014
QUEST Summer Reading Response Choice Board
Directions: Choose two activities to complete as you read your book this summer.
Essay
Compare/Contrast Writing Style
Dialogue
Compose an essay in which you
Compare and contrast the writing style of the
Imagine that the main character from the
summarize the novel in paragraph
book you read to that of a book you read last
book you read accidentally meets a character
one; analyze the characterization,
school year. Think about the use of description,
from a book you read in class last year. Write a
author's use of stylistic devices,
dialogue, word choice, and character
2-page dialogue introducing these characters
figurative language, and symbolism in
development. Provide examples of shared
to each other. Draw, paint, or take photos to
paragraphs two through five, and
styles as well as how the styles differ. You may
create a scene representing this encounter.
develop a concluding paragraph that
include why you feel the author used a specific
You may do this on traditional canvas or
states if you would recommend this
style when writing the novel.
poster board; or you may be ultra- creative
book to other teens and if you believe
and choose your own medium such a comic
this book should win a book award.
strip creator, glogsteredu, prezi, etc.
Habitat
Fakebook
Movie Poster
Create/build a habitat based on two
Create a “Fakebook” page (http://
Create a movie poster depicting the book
scenes from your novel. This may be
www.classtools.net/fb/home/page) or a
you read. Think about which current
done as two separate habitats, or you
"Facebook" page (on poster board-- not really
actors/actresses would play each part and
may create one habitat merging the two
on the world wide web) for the main
design a poster accordingly. Include a
scenes from the different novels.
characters in the book. On your page, make
digital or written trailer that introduces the
sure to have sections that allow for a picture
book’s ideas and themes as you view them
of the character, the character's status for the
personally. Be sure to include quotes
day (ex. Willy Wonka is
), his/her
representing the theme or ideas.
relationship status, political and/or religious
views, Contact information (e- mail, current
town), Personal Info (activities, interests,
favorite music, favorite movie, favorite book,
favorite
(you choose another favorite for your
character). This page should include 10
vocabulary words you learned while reading
these books.
Comic Strip
Game
Letter
Create a comic strip that represents
Create a game based on your novel’s
Write a letter to the author of your book
comparisons and differences between
themes and character interaction. Be sure to
stating your recommendation for the book
the main characters (protagonists and
included rules and directions.
to receive an award. Explain your opinion of
the book. What did you like or dislike along
antagonists) from the book you read. Be
sure to include information that will
You may also choose to build a sociogram
with suggestions for improving the book to
show the way the main characters
instead of creating a game.
make the bestseller’s list? (one page in
change, including what the change is
length)
and what brought about the change.
Include quotes from the story that will
provide information about the character.
QUEST Summer Reading 2014